Pentatonix is a musical group of five individuals who are revolutionizing the world of a cappella music through their original arrangements and unique sound. Their self-titled album of original music was released on Oct. 16, and it quickly rose to the top of the iTunes charts, where it has been in the top five since.

Pentatonix first formed in 2011 in order to participate in the third season of NBC’s “The Sing-Off.” Since winning the show, they have released three volumes of covers, gained over nine million followers on their Youtube channel and won a Grammy for their medley of Daft Punk music. Their recent album is their first attempt at producing an album of original music.

A cappella music disallows the use of instruments, so the music instead utilizes beatboxing and harmonies along with snapping, clapping and stomping to develop their sound.

The album opens with “Na Na Na,” an upbeat song that uses clapping as part of their beat and makes you want to get up and dance. While the lyrics are not the most profound, the song is happy and will be stuck in your head all day. “Sing,” similar to “Na Na Na,” is another upbeat song utilizing stomping and clapping, and the type of song that must be belted, not sung softly.

The sound on this album ranges from doo-wop to R&B with a mixture of mellow and upbeat songs.

“Misbehavin’,” which is inspired by doo-wop, is one of the gems on this album. Its lyrics talk of a person who loves partying and having fun is still continually faithful to their partner back home, and wants to make sure it is known. “Can’t Sleep Love” was released as a single, and it also mimics the funky doo-wop style seen in “Misbehavin’.”

“Ref,” “First Things First,” “Cracked” and “Rose Gold” have more of a R&B sound with techno beats. The beat and background vocals in these songs, particularly in “Ref,” will make you forget that they are only using their voices to create an electronic sound. These four songs not only show Pentatonix’s versatility, but they revolutionize a cappella music and its ability to mimic the sound of a typical song, showing the possibilities for a cappella music.

Not all of the songs on this album are upbeat. “Water,” “Take Me Home,” “New Year’s Day” and “Light in the Hallway” are all mellow yet beautiful songs that feature the harmonies of Pentatonix. “Light in the Hallway” does not use any beat at all, only harmonies, and it creates a hauntingly beautiful melody. “New Year’s Day” is also a simple song, but it builds in an uplifting manner, cleverly mimicking the lighthearted celebrations of New Year’s Day.

The deluxe version of the album also features four covers, “If I Ever Fall in Love,” “Where Are Ü Now,” “Cheerleader” and “Lean On.” “If I Ever Fall in Love” is a masterpiece featuring Jason Derulo, who belts out notes so high that they seem impossible. All four covers strip the original song down to the basic rhythms and harmonies, and they gradually gain momentum as the songs progress.

You do not need to be a fan of a cappella music to enjoy this album. If you buy it on iTunes or stream it on Spotify, you will find that Pentatonix breaks down the barrier between a cappella and modern music, crossing over into multiple genres. Pentatonix is taking the music world by storm, and you will not want to miss it.